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-fold

A number of parts or facets; multiplied by such a number; relating to folding or to a folded object.

Old English ‑fald, ‑feald, related to fold.

This suffix forms adjectives and adverbs from the cardinal or counting numbers, so twofold, eightfold, hundredfold, thousandfold and many others. Related words are bifold, double or twofold; and manifold, many and various, or a thing with many different parts or forms (manyfold is a more recent equivalent with the sense of something increased many times).

The suffix also has the sense of folding: a gatefold is an oversized page in a book, folded inside but designed to be opened out to be looked at; in the US a billfold is a wallet designed to hold folded dollar bills. Other examples are linenfold, an ornamental motif resembling folded linen that is carved on panelling; and fanfold, continuous stationary folded concertina-fashion.

Blindfold does not belong here, as it is a modified form, on the model of words in ‑fold, of the Old English blindfeld, to cover the eyes or make blind; scaffold is another with a different origin—the unrelated Anglo-Norman French (e)schaffaut.

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